Billy Fairhurst

William Shaw Fairhurst (1 October 1902 – 27 February 1979) was an English professional footballer who played as a left back. He played over 150 matches in the Football League. His brother, David, played for England and Newcastle United.

Billy Fairhurst

Billy in Middlesbrough kit c.1926-28
Personal information
Full name	William Shaw Fairhurst
Date of birth	(1902-10-01)1 October 1902
Place of birth	Blyth, England
Date of death	27 February 1979(1979-02-27) (aged 76)
Place of death	Middlesbrough, England
Height	5 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1.74 m)
Position(s)	Left back
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1924–1925	Blyth Spartans	?	(?)
1925–1928	Middlesbrough	0	(0)
1928–1929	Southport	18	(0)
1929–1932	Nelson	76	(0)
1932–1933	Northampton Town	13	(0)
1933–1935	Hartlepools United	58	(0)
1935–1936	Tranmere Rovers	0	(0)
Total		165	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Playing career

One of ten children of a former Blyth Spartans footballer (also William Shaw Fairhurst), William Shaw "Billy" Fairhurst was a sturdy left-back. He played in the North Eastern League during his three seasons with Middlesbrough, before moving to Southport, making his full league debut in 1928.

In 1929, he moved from Southport to play for Nelson. When Nelson dropped out of the League, he stayed on for a season in the Lancashire Combination whilst working as a local dairyman. Nelson's manager, English, who signed him for Nelson, also signed him for Northampton Town. His football career ended after a spell with Hartlepools United owing to an ulcerated leg.

Life after football

Billy served in the Durham Light Infantry during the war and was one of the first (liberators) into Bergen-Belsen Concentration Camp.

After the war he settled with his wife, Mary (née Windross), in Middlesbrough. They had two children; Dorothy Mary and Eric William. Billy worked for many years at ICI (Billingham). He died of a heart attack, aged 76.

References

• Dykes, Garth (2009). Nelson FC in the Football League. Nottingham: SoccerData. p. 34. ISBN 978-1-905891-29-0.
• Joyce, Michael (2004). Football League Players' Records 1888–1939. Nottingham: SoccerData. p. 86. ISBN 1-899468-67-6.
• Wilde, Geoff; Braham, Michael (1995). Sandgrounders : the complete league history of Southport Football Club. Carnegie. ISBN 1-874181-14-4. OCLC 650188009.